How long is the processing time for SRD SASSA Grant?

The processing time for the COVID-19 SRD grant is between 60 to 90 days. This may vary slightly depending on the volume of applications received.

Essential Guide on SRD SASSA Social Relief of Distress Grant

Q: Do I need to reapply every month?

No, you do not need to reapply every month. Once your application is approved, you will receive the grant automatically each month as long as you remain eligible.

Q: How can I update my contact details for this grant?

You can change your contact details by visiting the provided link. Enter your ID number and application ID to proceed, then follow the instructions to update your phone number or email.

The SRD R350 Grant, also known as Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, was started by the South African government in April 2022. This grant was introduced to support individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary goal of the SRD SASSA Grant is to provide help to those who lost their jobs and are facing financial problems.

This grant is administered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). It falls under the purview of section 32 of the Social Assistance Act of 2004 and is implemented in accordance with the Finance Ministry. At first, this grant was supposed to end in March 2024, but now it will continue until March 2025. It provides a monthly payment of R370 to those who are not receiving any other form of government grant, including social grants or unemployment insurance.

In this article, you will find every detail about this grant, including common problems applicants often face. If you are applying or have already applied for this grant, this article will provide answers to all your queries. If you have more questions, feel free to comment below, and I’ll do my best to give you accurate information.

SRD SASSA Social Relief of Distress Grant

Importance of Social Relief of Distress Grant

This SASSA grant holds a critical role in addressing the needs of South Africans, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing high poverty rates.

According to Statista, total population of South Africa in 2022 was 60.6 million. Among them, 57.6% (34.9 million) fall within the age group of 18-59 years, making them eligible for this grant. To break it down further, an estimated 18.3 million people live in extreme poverty in South Africa, and 13.4 million have no income. This high poverty and unemployment rate emphasize the dire need for social assistance programs like this aid.

According to SoNA, 2 million people lost their jobs because of Covid-19 pandemic, worsening the poverty situation. SoNA numbers in 2024 reveal that more than 26 million people rely on social grants in the country. Approximately 9 million unemployed people are currently benefiting from this social grant alone.

The Special COVID-19 grant provides a monthly income for those who struggle to meet basic needs like food. According to the Final Special COVID19 SRD Grant Report, 93.3% of the surveyed applicants reported using the grant to buy basic food.

This grant provides immediate economic and social relief to beneficiaries. It helps vulnerable individuals facing hardship and unemployment regain some dignity. Given the high poverty rate and the 9 million people relying on this grant to meet basic needs, its importance in South Africa is undeniable.

How Much is SRD Grant Now?

SASSA SRD grant has been increased from R350 to R370 starting from April 2024. The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, previously known as the SRD R350 Grant, is now updated to SRD R370 Grant. South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in the National Assembly on 13 March 2024 that this grant will continue for another year until March 2025, with the amount increased by R20. This is the first increase since the grant started in 2020.

Eligibility Criteria to Qualify for SRD SASSA Grant

SASSA has set up a tight eligibility criteria so that this grant reaches to most deserving applicants. You must fulfill the following requirements to get this grant;

Citizenship:
You need to be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or a registered refugee.
If you’re an asylum seeker, your section 22 permit or visa should be valid.
People with special permits like those under the Lesotho Exemption Permit, Special Angolan Dispensation, or Zimbabwe Exemption Permit are also eligible.
Residency: You must live within the borders of South Africa. This means you should be physically present in the country.
Age: You should be older than 18 years but younger than 60 years. This age range is crucial for eligibility.
Unemployed: You must be unemployed to be eligible for this grant.
Monthly Income: Your monthly income should be less than R624. If you have a higher income than R624 you won’t pass the means test.
Willingness to Accept Opportunities: You shouldn’t refuse any job or educational opportunity without a good reason. This shows your willingness to improve your situation.
Any Other Grant: You should not be receiving any other social grants for yourself. Other grants can disqualify you from this scheme. This does not include child grant.
UIF Benefits: You must not be getting any unemployment insurance benefits and should not be eligible to receive them. This includes not being registered with the UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund).
NSFAS Stipend: You must not receive any stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or other financial aids.
COVID-19 Support: You shouldn’t be receiving any other COVID-19 related government support. Double-dipping into multiple aid programs is not allowed.
State Institutions: You must not be living in a government funded or a subsidized institution. This applies to places like state-funded homes or care facilities.

Required Documents to Apply for this Grant

You don’t need to scan or upload any documents to apply for this social fund. Just gather your basic information and fill out the application online. Make sure your information is correct according to your documents. SASSA will verify this information by their own means. Especially, your contact number should be the one that is reachable, as SASSA will contact you using this number.

Before you start your application, SASSA will ask you to agree to their Consent and Declaration form. You must agree to this to continue. Once you accept the terms and conditions, you can proceed with your application.

Application Procedure for COVID-19 Social Grant

Applying for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant is simple and can be done in several ways. Follow these steps to apply for this grant using SASSA’s official site, srd sassa gov za:

Visit SASSA official portal by clicking on link srd.sassa.gov.za.
Enter your active mobile phone number and click “send sms”
You will receive an One Time Password (OTP) on your cell phone
Enter that OTP on the website and click “verify pin”.
Agree to the Consent and Declaration Form
Fill in your personal details (ID Number, Name, Surname, address, gender, etc.)
Provide banking information and choose a payment method. This step can be different for new users and existing users.

That’s it! You will receive a confirmation message on your provided number indicating that your grant is now active.

Others Methods to Apply

That’s it! You will receive a confirmation message on your provided number indicating that your grant is now active.

Whatsapp
SASSA Chatbot
USSD (No internet required)

If you need detailed information on how to apply for this grant by other methods. You can read my detailed guide on SASSA Online Application.

How to Check the Status of Your Application?

After you submit your SRD SASSA grant application, you need to track its status to find result of your application. SASSA takes 2-3 months to verify your application. Once they complete the verification process, they will update your application status as approved or declined. You can do SASSA Status check of your application by using many methods as listed below;

Visit SGC tool to check and download your SASSA application details

Through SASSA official website
srd-sassa-gov-za

Using Moya application on your smart phone (without internet)

By sending an SMS on SASSA number
(082) 046 8553

Contacting SASSA on their WhatsApp number
(082) 046 8553

By calling on SASSA toll free number
0800 60 10 11

Reasons for SASSA COVID-19 Grant Declined

SASSA checks your information every month. If your details change and you no longer qualify, your grant can be declined for that month. Here are some reasons why your social Grant application might be declined:

Providing insufficient information
Income exceeds the R624 limit
Receiving other social grants
Identity verification issues
Registered with NSFAS or UIF
Not in the eligible age range
Employment status changed
Duplicate application detected
Linked to fraudulent activity
Listed as deceased in Home Affairs records

Understanding these reasons can help you avoid common mistakes and improve your chances of approval.

Methods to Apply for Reconsideration

If you believe your application was wrongly declined, you can ask for a reconsideration. Your application is verified each month for the approval of grant. Each month, SASSA verifies your application for the grant. If declined, you need to apply for reconsideration separately for each month within 30 days of the rejection. You can apply for reconsideration using three alternative ways.

Official website
In person Application
Call on Toll-free number and request reconsideration

Appeal Against the Declined Social Grant

If your R350 grant reconsideration is also declined and you still believe this decision was incorrect, you can still challenge the decision. You need to file an appeal against this decision with the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) within 90 days of receiving the rejection notice.

Before starting the appeal procedure make sure you understand the reason provided by SASSA for declining your application. This information is crucial for preparing your appeal.

You can lodge a SASSA appeal by following these steps:

Lodge an appeal at https://srd.sassa.gov.za/appeals/appeal.
Enter your ID number and registered mobile number.
You will receive a Pin on your phone number, enter that pin and click submit.
Select the month for which you would like to challenge the decision.
Select reason and click apply.

That’s all! If successful, ITSAA will overturn the decision, allowing you to receive the payments for this social scheme. They usually take 60 – 90 days to make the decision.

SRD Grant Cancellation

There can be several reasons why you might want to cancel your social grant. You may have found employment or another source of income, making you ineligible for the grant. Canceling your grant is both legally and ethically right, as it allows someone else in need to receive it. It also helps you avoid any legal issues with SASSA.

You can cancel your grant online through multiple methods. Follow these steps to cancel your application by using official SASSA site:

Visit the grant cancellation page directly by clicking on the link. https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/cancellation
Enter your ID number and phone number, then click “send pin”
Enter the pin that you will receive on your registered cellphone number and click on “cancel my grant”
You will see a prompt message on screen “Are you sure to cancel your grant application?”
If you are sure about canceling your grant then click “Yes”. Your request for termination of your grant application will be initiated.
You will receive a confirmation message on your mobile saying “Your request to cancel the SASSA Grant has been sent”.

Your grant will be canceled within 7 days, and you will no longer be a beneficiary of this grant.

Reinstatement of Canceled Social Grant

If you previously canceled your grant and now find yourself in need again, you may be able to reinstate your grant. Reinstatement allows you to continue receiving financial assistance during difficult times.

Follow these steps to reinstate your application:

Go to the SASSA official SRD reinstatement page: https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/reinstate.
Input your ID number and the registered mobile phone number into the provided fields. Click the “send pin” button to receive an OTP via SMS on your mobile phone.
Input the received OTP into the designated field on the website to verify your identity.
Choose the reason for your grant reinstatement, such as ‘Canceled in error,’ ‘No longer have income,’ or ‘Other.’
Review your details and confirm your request to finalize the reinstatement application.
SASSA will process your reinstatement request, and you will receive an SMS notification confirming receipt and providing updates on your application status.

SASSA may decline your reinstatement request if your latest information does not meet the eligibility criteria of SRD R370 Grant.

Changing Bank Details for Receiving Payment

If you need to update your banking details for your SASSA grant, there’s an easy method to do so. Many applicants worry that changing banking details is hard, but it’s actually straightforward. Just follow these steps:

Go to this SASSA page: https://srd.sassa.gov.za/said.
Scroll down to the section “How do I change my banking details.”
Enter your ID number and click “submit.”
You will receive a text message on your registered number with a unique and secure link that works only once.
Open the link securely and follow the provided instructions. You will need to enter:
New bank name
Account type (savings, cheque, etc.)
Account number
New bank branch code
Double-check all the information and click submit.

You will receive a confirmation message on your mobile number once your banking details have been successfully changed. Your future grants will be deposited into your new account.

How to Update Name and Surname in SRD Application

There are two possible reasons why you might need to update your name and surname in your application:

You made changes to your name and surname record with the Department of Home Affairs.
You made a spelling mistake while entering your name and surname in the application.

Don’t worry! You can change these details in both cases. Follow these steps:

Search following link on browser and open it: www sassa gov za / said.
Scroll down to the section “Request Names and Surname Update”
Enter your ID number, name and surname exactly as mentioned on your South African ID card, then click “submit.”
You will receive a text message once details are successfully updated.

Note: Your Name and Surname will only be updated if your data matches with records available in the Department of Home Affairs database.

Is Amount of R370 Enough to Alleviate Poverty?

As a Social Worker, I find myself pondering over the adequacy of this grant, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant, which has been a lifeline for many citizens, has been a topic of concern regarding its impact on poverty alleviation. The decision to maintain the grant at R350 from 2020 to March 2023 has raised eyebrows, considering the economic challenges faced by vulnerable populations.

Recently, there has been a slight increase in this grant, with the money being raised to R370 in April 2024. While any increase might seem beneficial, one cannot overlook the stark reality of rising costs. The cost of living has soared, making it increasingly difficult for individuals relying on the grant to make ends meet. This raises a fundamental question: is R370 enough to alleviate poverty in our country?

Taking a closer look at the numbers reveals a concerning trend. The inflation-adjusted National Poverty Lines show a significant increase over the years, particularly in basic necessities like food. In 2020, when this social grant was introduced, the food poverty level stood at R585 per person per month. Fast forward to 2023, and this figure has climbed to R723, marking a 23% increase. However, during this period, there was no corresponding increase in the grant amount until the recent adjustment in April 2024.

Source: https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P03101/P031012023.pdf

The recent increase of R20 in this grant, announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, represents a 5.4% increment. While any increase is welcomed, it falls short of addressing the widening gap between the grant and the actual cost of living. This gap is especially glaring for families with multiple dependents, who find it increasingly challenging to cover basic expenses with the current grant money.

In conclusion, the recent increase in the SRD grant, while a step in the right direction, may not be enough to lift individuals and families out of poverty. The widening gap between the grant amount and the rising cost of living necessitates a critical reevaluation of our social welfare policies to ensure they effectively address the financial challenges faced by the most vulnerable members of our society.

FAQs

The processing time for COVID-19 grant is between 60 to 90 days. This can vary slightly depending on the volume of applications being received.

You will receive payment from the date you applied, provided your application is approved.

No, you do not need to reapply every month. According to the latest update, once your application is approved, you will receive the grant automatically each month as long as you remain eligible.

There is no fixed date for receiving the funds, but payments are usually made within the last 10 days of each month. Regularly check your SASSA status to see your payday once your grant is approved.

If you need to reapply due to a previous mistake or expired application, you must start a new application from the beginning. Follow the same initial application procedure.

This grant is currently scheduled to continue until March 2025, as announced in news by the Finance Minister. It is a temporary grant, but it has been extended yearly. It is hoped it will continue for a few more years.

You can change your contact details by visiting link. Enter your id number and application id to proceed. Next follow the instructions to update a new phone number or email.